Milking system shut-off and sensors

ABSTRACT

A method comprises receiving a flow of milk at an inlet of a manifold. The inlet comprises a first end coupled to a hose that receives a flow of milk from a teat cup and a second end terminating in a chamber of the manifold. The manifold comprises one or more other inlets and a plurality of outlets. The plurality of outlets includes one or more milk collector outlets and one or more drain outlets. The method proceeds by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding milk collector outlet by causing a shut-off valve corresponding to the inlet to open, and by causing a drain valve corresponding to the inlet to close. The method concludes by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding drain outlet by causing the drain valve corresponding to the inlet to open.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/008,695 “Milking System Shut Off and Sensors,” which was filed Jan.28, 2016 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/276,193, entitled “Milking System Shut Off and Sensors,” which wasfiled on May 13, 2014 which is now U.S. Pat. No. 9,313,998 issued Apr.19, 2016 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/115,587, entitled “Milking System Shut Off and Sensors,” which wasfiled on May 25, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,752,504 issued on Jun. 17,2014, which are each hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to dairy farming and more particularlyto a milking system shut-off and sensors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Over time, the size and complexity of dairy milking operations hasincreased. Accordingly, the need for efficient and scalable systems andmethods that support dairy milking operations has also increased.Systems and methods supporting dairy milking operations, however, haveproven inadequate in various respects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, disadvantages andproblems associated with previous systems supporting dairy milkingoperations may be reduced or eliminated.

In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a plurality of inlets anda plurality of outlets. Each inlet is adapted to receive a flow of milkfrom a dairy livestock, and each outlet is adapted to receive a flow ofmilk from a corresponding one or more inlets. The plurality of outletsinclude one or more milk collector outlets and one or more drainoutlets. Each milk collector outlet is adapted to direct the flow ofmilk received from the corresponding one or more inlets to a milkcollector. Each drain outlet is adapted to direct the flow of milkreceived from the corresponding one or more inlets to a discard area.The apparatus further includes one or more valves each associated withone of the plurality of inlets. The one or more valves are adapted todirect the flow of milk received at the associated inlet to either acorresponding one of the one or more milk collector outlets or acorresponding one of the one or more drain outlets.

Particular embodiments of the present disclosure may provide one or moretechnical advantages. For example, in certain embodiments, the apparatusof the present disclosure integrates into a single manifold a pluralityof inlets adapted to receive milk and a plurality of outlets adapted toselectively output the milk to a receiver jar to be stored or to aseparator to be discarded. Additionally, in certain embodiments, theapparatus of the present disclosure may include valves to control theflow of milk through the outlets and quality/flow sensors integratedwith the manifold. Integrating inlets, outlets, valves, and/or sensorsinto a single manifold may allow for efficient connections betweenmilking components and may provide a compact and/or low cost solutionfor sorting milk.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure may include some, all, ornone of the above advantages. One or more other technical advantages maybe readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the figures,descriptions, and claims included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To provide a more complete understanding of the present invention andthe features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example milking system, according to certainembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate detailed views of the example manifold depictedin FIG. 1, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure;and

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a use scenario for the manifolddepicted in FIGS. 2A-2C, according to certain embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example milking system 100, according to certainembodiments of the present disclosure. System 100 includes a manifold102 directing milk collected from a dairy livestock 104 to either a milkcollector 106 (for milk determined to be “good,” as described below) ora separator 108 (for milk determined to be “bad,” as described below).Manifold 102 may include a plurality of inlets 110, one or more milkcollector outlets 112, and one or more drain outlets 114. Inlets 110 mayrefer to any structure suitable to receive a flow of milk into manifold102 (e.g., from a teat of dairy livestock 104). Outlets 112/114 mayrefer to any structure suitable to output a flow of milk from manifold102.

In certain embodiments, manifold 102 may be placed in (or proximate to)a milking area (e.g., a milking box) that facilitates milking of a dairylivestock 104. Although the present disclosure contemplates that dairylivestock 104 includes any suitable dairy livestock (e.g., a cow, agoat, a sheep, a water buffalo, or any other dairy livestock), theremainder of this description will be described with regard to a dairycow 104 for purposes of simplicity. The milking area may include amilking apparatus comprising a number of teat cups 116, each configuredfor attachment to a teat of a dairy cow 104. Each teat cup 116 may becoupled to a hose 118 connected to an inlet 110 of manifold 102 suchthat a flow of milk may be delivered from a teat of a dairy cow 104 toan inlet 110 of manifold 102.

As described in detail with regard to FIGS. 2A-2C below, manifold 102may include one or more milk quality sensors 120 facilitating adetermination regarding the quality of the milk received at inlets 110.If the milk quality is determined to be “good,” the milk may be directedto a milk collector 106 (e.g., a receiver jar that collects the milk andstores it at a cool temperature) via a milk collector outlet 112. If themilk quality is determined to be “bad,” the milk may be directed to aseparator 108 (e.g., a discard chamber) via a drain outlet 114. One ormore valves (e.g., shut-off valves 122 and drain valves 128) may be usedto control the flow of milk between inlets 110 and milk collectoroutlets 112/drain outlets 114.

FIG. 2A-2C illustrate detailed views of example manifold 102, accordingto certain embodiments of the present disclosure. As described abovewith regard to FIG. 1, manifold 102 may include one or more inlets 110,one or more milk collector outlets 112, and one or more drain outlets114. Additionally, manifold 102 may include one or more shut-off valves122, one or more flow sensors 124, one or more vacuum sensors 126, andone or more drain valves 128.

In certain embodiments, each of the one or more inlets 110 of manifold102 may be adapted to receive a flow of milk from a teat of a dairy cow104. For example, manifold 102 may include four inlets 110a-110d, andeach inlet 110 may receive a flow of milk via a hose 118 from a teat cup116 configured for attachment to one of the four teats of a dairy cow104. Each teat cup 116 may be adapted to extract milk from the dairy cow104. For example, a vacuum pressure (e.g., generated by a vacuum source)may be applied to facilitate attachment of the teat cup 116 to the teatof dairy cow 104 and/or to facilitate extraction of milk from dairy cow104.

In certain embodiments, the application of a vacuum pressure to teatcups 116 may be controlled by one or more shut-off valves 122 ofmanifold 102. For example, each shut-off valve 122, when in an openposition, may allow a vacuum pressure to be applied to a correspondingteat cup 116 such that the corresponding teat cup 116 may extract milkfrom a teat of a dairy cow 104. Conversely, each shut-off valve 122,when in the closed position, may prevent vacuum pressure from beingapplied to a corresponding teat cup 116 such that the extraction of milkmay be stopped and the corresponding teat cup 116 removed from the teatof the dairy cow 104.

Shut-off valves 122 may each comprise any suitable valve configured tocontrol the application of a vacuum pressure to a corresponding teat cup116. For example, shut-off valves 122 may each comprise a plug and adiaphragm molded from one or more parts. When atmospheric pressure or apositive air pressure is acting on the back side of the diaphragm,shut-off valve 122 may move to a closed position (preventing a vacuumpressure from being applied via a corresponding teat cup 116).Conversely, when a vacuum pressure is acting on the back side ofdiaphragm, the shut-off valve may remain in the open position (allowinga vacuum pressure to be applied via a corresponding teat cup 116). Incertain embodiments, a spring may be used to cause shut-off valves 122to remain in the open position in the absence of an air pressure beingapplied to the diaphragm.

In certain embodiments, shut-off valves 122 may each include or beconfigured to communicate with (via wireless or wireline communication)a control unit 130. For purposes of simplicity, it will be assumedthroughout the remainder of this description that a single control unit130 serves each of the shut-off valves 122. Control unit 130 may includeone or more computer systems at one or more locations. Each computersystem may include any appropriate input devices (such as a keypad,touch screen, mouse, or other device that can accept information),output devices, mass storage media, or other suitable components forreceiving, processing, storing, and communicating data. Both the inputdevices and output devices may include fixed or removable storage mediasuch as a magnetic computer disk, CD-ROM, or other suitable media toboth receive input from and provide output to a user. Each computersystem may include a personal computer, workstation, network computer,kiosk, wireless data port, personal data assistant (PDA), one or moreprocessors within these or other devices, or any other suitableprocessing device. In short, control unit 130 may include any suitablecombination of software, firmware, and hardware.

Control unit 130 may additionally include one or more processing modules132. Processing modules 132 may each include one or moremicroprocessors, controllers, or any other suitable computing devices orresources and may work, either alone or with other components to providea portion or all of the functionality described herein. Control unit 130may additionally include (or be communicatively coupled to via wirelessor wireline communication) memory 134. Memory 134 may include any memoryor database module and may take the form of volatile or non-volatilememory, including, without limitation, magnetic media, optical media,random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), removable media, orany other suitable local or remote memory component.

In certain embodiments, control unit 130 may be operable to determinewhether a shut-off valve 122 should be in an open position or a closedposition. In response to a determination that a shut-off valve 122should be in the closed position, control unit 130 may communicate asignal to the shut-off valve 122, the signal causing the shut-off valve122 to move to the closed position (e.g., by applying an air pressure toa diaphragm, as described above).

For example, control unit 130 may determine whether a shut-off valve 122should be in an open position or a closed position by determiningwhether a predetermined amount of time has expired since a correspondingteat cup 116 was attached to a teat of a dairy cow 104 (such that a cowis milked for the predetermined amount of time). If the predeterminedamount of time has not expired, control unit 130 may determine that theshut-off valve 122 should be in the open position. If the predeterminedamount of time has not expired, control unit 130 may determine that theshut-off valve 122 should be in the open position.

As another example, control unit 130 may determine whether a shut-offvalve 122 should be in an open position or a closed position byprocessing signals received from one or more flow sensors 124 ofmanifold 102. Each flow sensor 124 of manifold 102 may be adapted togenerate a signal corresponding to a measured the flow rate of milkreceived by and/or exiting manifold 102. If control unit 130 determinesthat a measured flow rate is greater than a threshold, controller 130may determine that a corresponding shut-off valve should remain in anopen position. If control unit 130 determines that a measured flow rateis less than the threshold, controller 130 may determine that acorresponding shut-off valve should remain in an open position. Althougha particular number of flow sensors 124 are depicted as being located atparticular positions within manifold 102, the present disclosurecontemplates any suitable number of flow sensors 124 located at anysuitable locations within or separate from manifold 102.

In certain embodiments, manifold 102 may additionally include one ormore vacuum sensors 126. For example, manifold 102 may include a vacuumsensor 126 associated with each inlet 110. Each vacuum sensor 126 may beoperable to generate a signal corresponding to the vacuum pressureassociated with a corresponding teat cup 116. The generated signals,when communicated to control unit 130, may serve as a feedback loop bywhich control unit 130 may determine if a shut-off valve 122 has stoppedthe application of vacuum pressure to a corresponding teat cup 116.Although a particular number of vacuum sensors 126 are depicted as beinglocated at particular positions within manifold 102, the presentdisclosure contemplates any suitable number of vacuum sensors 126located at any suitable locations within or separate from manifold 102.

As described above, when a vacuum pressure is applied to teat cups 116,milk may be extracted from the teats of the dairy cow 104. That milk maypass through hoses 118 and be received at inlets 110 of manifold 102.The milk received at each inlet 110 may be passed to either (1) acorresponding milk collector outlet 112 (which may supply good milk to amilk collector 106), or (2) a corresponding drain outlet 114 (which maysupply bad milk to a separator 108). In certain embodiments, the flow ofmilk from inlets 110 to corresponding milk collector outlets 112 orcorresponding drain outlets 114 may be controlled by the one or moreshut-off valves 122 operating in conjunction with one or more drainvalves 128. The one or more drain valves 128 may be configured andoperate in a manner substantially similar to shut-off valves 122,described above.

For example, in the valve configuration depicted in FIG. 2B, shut-offvalve 122 d is in the open position and drain valve 128 d is in theclosed position such that good milk received at inlet 110 d is directedto milk collector outlet 112 d. Conversely, in the valve configurationdepicted in FIG. 2C, shut-off valve 122 d is in the closed position anddrain valve 128 d is in the open position such that bad milk received atinlet 110 d is directed to drain outlet 114 d.

In certain embodiments, drain valves 128, like shut-off valves 122described above, may each include or be configured to communicate with(via wireless or wireline communication) a control unit 130. Forpurposes of simplicity, it will be assumed throughout the remainder ofthis description that the single control unit 130 serving shut-offvalves 122 (as described above) additionally serves each of drain valves128.

In certain embodiments, control unit 130 may be operable to determinewhether milk received at an inlet 110 is good (such that the milk shouldpass to a corresponding milk collector outlet 112) or bad (such that themilk should pass to a corresponding drain outlets 114). For example,control unit 130 may be configured to communicate with one or more milkquality sensors 120. Milk quality sensors 120 may each include anysuitable sensor for generating a signal corresponding to a quality ofmilk. For example, milk quality sensors 120 may include one or more of amilk conductivity sensor, a milk color sensor, and a milk temperaturesensor. Although a particular number of milk quality sensors 120 aredepicted as being integrated with manifold 102 (i.e., a single sensor120 positioned within each inlet 110), the present disclosurecontemplates any suitable number of milk quality sensors 120 integratedwith or external to manifold 102.

Control unit 130 may be operable to receive a signal from a milk qualitysensor 120 and determine, by comparing the signal to a correspondingquality threshold, whether the milk quality received at inlet 110 isgood or bad. As one particular example, control unit 130 may receive asignal from a milk quality sensor 120 configured to measure milkconductivity, and the control unit 130 may compare that signal with aquality threshold to determine whether the milk quality is good (e.g.,when the measured conductivity is lower than the threshold) or bad (whenthe measured conductivity is greater than the threshold).

If control unit 130 determines that the milk quality received at aninlet 110 is good, signals may be communicated to the appropriateshut-off valve 122 and drain valve 128, the signals causing the valves122/128 to be positioned such that milk is directed to a correspondingmilk collector outlet 112 (i.e., shut-off valve 122 is open and drainvalve 128 is closed, as depicted in FIG. 2B). The milk collector outlet112 may then receive the flow of milk from the inlet 110 and may directthe flow of milk to a collection area, such as milk collector 106. Ifcontrol unit 130 determines that the milk quality received at an inlet110 is bad, signals may be communicated to the appropriate shut-offvalve 122 and drain valve 128, the signals causing the valves 122/128 tobe positioned such that milk is directed to a corresponding drain outlet114 (i.e., shut-off valve 122 is closed and drain valve 128 is open, asdepicted in FIG. 2C). The drain outlet 114 may then receive the flow ofmilk from the inlet 110 and may direct the flow of milk to a discardarea, such as separator 108.

The above-described example manifold 102 may, in certain embodiments,provide one or more technical advantages. For example, a plurality ofinlets adapted to receive milk and a plurality of outlets adapted toselectively output milk to either a receiver jar (to be stored) or to aseparator (to be discarded) may each be formed in the single manifold102. Additionally, in certain embodiments, manifold 102 may includevalves to control the flow of milk through the outlets and quality/flowsensors integrated with the manifold 102. Integrating inlets, outlets,valves, and/or sensors into the single manifold 102 may allow forefficient connections between milking components and may provide acompact and/or low cost solution for sorting milk.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the manifold 102described above without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thecomponents may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations maybe performed by more, fewer, or other components. Additionally, theoperations may be performed using any suitable logic comprisingsoftware, hardware, and/or other logic.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a use scenario 300 for manifold 102depicted in FIGS. 2A-2C, according to certain embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The method begins at step 302 where a flow of milk isreceived at an inlet 110 of manifold 102. At step 304, it is determined(e.g., by a control unit 130) whether to direct the flow of milk to amilk collector outlet 112 or a drain outlet 114 corresponding to inlet110. In certain embodiments, a signal received from a milk qualitysensor may be used to facilitate the determination. If the signalindicates the flow comprises good milk, the flow of milk may be directedto a milk collector outlet 112. If the milk signal indicates the flowcomprises bad milk, the flow of milk may be directed to a drain outlet114.

Upon a determination to direct the flow of milk to drain outlet 114 instep 304, the method proceeds to step 306 to close a shut-off valve 122corresponding to milk collector outlet 112 and open a drain valve 128corresponding to drain outlet 114. Drain outlet 114 may comprise adistinct drain outlet 114 (e.g., a drain outlet 114 that corresponds toinlet 110 and does not correspond to any of the other inlets 110 ofmanifold 102) or a shared drain outlet 114 (e.g., a drain outlet 114that corresponds to inlet 110 and one or more of the other inlets 110 ofmanifold 102). In certain embodiments, shut-off valve 122 and/or drainvalve 128 may comprise an air-actuated valve. An air actuated valve maybe closed by applying air pressure to a diaphragm of the valve in orderto position a plug in the path of the flow of milk. An air actuatedvalve may be opened by removing air pressure from the diaphragm in orderto remove the plug from the path of the flow of milk.

After closing shut-off valve 122 and opening drain valve 128, the methodmay return to step 304 to update the determination. If the quality ofthe flow of milk continues to be bad, the method may continue directingthe flow of milk to drain outlet 114. If the quality of the flow of milkbecomes good, for example, due to a next dairy cow being connected tothe milking equipment, the method may direct the flow of milk to milkcollector outlet 112.

Upon a determination to direct the flow of milk to milk collector outlet112 at step 304, the method may proceed to step 308 to open a shut-offvalve 122 corresponding to milk collector outlet 112 and close a drainvalve 128 corresponding to drain outlet 114. Milk collector outlet 112may comprise a distinct milk collector outlet 112 (e.g., a milkcollector outlet 112 that corresponds to inlet 110 and does notcorrespond to any of the other inlets 110 of manifold 102) or a sharedmilk collector outlet 112 (e.g., a milk collector outlet 112 thatcorresponds to inlet 110 and one or more of the other inlets 110 ofmanifold 102).

At step 310, a signal may be generated by a flow sensor 124 associatedwith milk the collector outlet 112 corresponding to the inlet from whichthe flow of milk is being received. The generated signal may indicatewhether the amount of flow (e.g., the measurement of the flow rate) isless than a flow threshold. The amount of flow may be less than the flowthreshold, for example, when the dairy cow has been milked out and thecurrent milking cycle should be ended. In response to receiving a signalindicating that the measured flow is less than a flow threshold (e.g.,from control unit 130), shut-off valve 122 corresponding to milkcollector outlet 112 may be closed at step 312. Closing shut-off valve122 may cause vacuum pressure to be released from teat cup 116 such thatteat cup 116 stops extracting milk. As a result, the corresponding hose118 stops receiving milk, and corresponding inlet 110 stops receivingmilk. The method then ends.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the methodsdescribed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Forexample, the steps may be combined, modified, or deleted whereappropriate, and additional steps may be added. Additionally, the stepsmay be performed in any suitable order without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

Although the present invention has been described with severalembodiments, diverse changes, substitutions, variations, alterations,and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it isintended that the invention encompass all such changes, substitutions,variations, alterations, and modifications as fall within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a manifold; a pluralityof inlets, each inlet comprising a first end coupled to a correspondinghose and a second end terminating in a chamber of the manifold; aplurality of outlets, each outlet of the plurality of outlets in fluidcommunication with a corresponding one or more of the plurality ofinlets, the plurality of outlets including: one or more milk collectoroutlets, each milk collector outlet comprising a first end forming acollector opening in the chamber of the manifold and a second endcoupled to a milk collector, wherein each milk collector outlet is influid communication with the milk collector; and one or more drainoutlets, each drain outlet comprising a first end forming a discardopening in the chamber of the manifold and a second end coupled to adiscard area, wherein each drain outlet is in fluid communication withthe discard area; one or more valves, each valve associated with one ofthe plurality of inlets and comprising: at least one shut-off valvethat, when open, establishes a fluid communication path from thecollector opening formed in the chamber to the milk collector and, whenclosed, closes a fluid communication path from the collector openingformed in the chamber to the milk collector; and at least one drainvalve that, when open, establishes a fluid communication path from thediscard opening formed in the chamber to the discard area and, whenclosed, closes a fluid communication path from the discard openingformed in the chamber to the discard area.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein: the plurality of inlets comprises four inlets; the one or moremilk collector outlets comprises four milk collector outlets; and theone or more drain outlets comprises four drain outlets.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein: each inlet is associated with a distinct milkcollector outlet; and at least two of the inlets are associated with ashared drain outlet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least twoof the inlets are associated with a shared milk collector outlet.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more valvescomprises a plug actuated by a diaphragm, the plug and the diaphragmmolded as a single part.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the atleast one valve: closes when air pressure is applied to the diaphragm;and opens when the air pressure is removed from the diaphragm.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one shut-off valve isassociated with an inlet corresponding to a particular milk collectoroutlet of the one or more milk collector outlets, the apparatus furthercomprising: a flow sensor associated with the particular milk collectoroutlet, the flow sensor generates a signal corresponding to the flowrate of a fluid received by the particular milk collector outlet; and acontrol unit operable to: determine, based on the signal generated bythe flow sensor, if the flow rate of the fluid received by theparticular milk collector outlet exceeds a threshold; and communicate,in response to determining that the measured flow rate is less than thethreshold, a signal to the shut-off valve associated with the inletcorresponding to the particular milk collector outlet, the signalcausing the shut-off valve to be in a closed position.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the at least one shut-off valve is associated with aparticular inlet of the one or more inlets and the at least one drainvalve is associated with the particular inlet, the apparatus furthercomprising: a milk quality sensor associated with the particular inlet,the flow sensor generates a signal corresponding to the quality of aflow of milk received by the particular inlet; and a control unit that:determines, based on the signal generated by the milk quality sensor, ifthe quality, of the flow of milk received by the particular inletexceeds a quality threshold; communicates, in response to determiningthat the quality of the flow of milk received by the particular inletdoes exceed the quality threshold, a signal to each of the shut-offvalve and the drain valve associated with the particular inlet, thesignals causing the shut-off valve to be in an open position and thedrain valve to be in a closed position such that the flow of milkreceived by the particular inlet is directed to a corresponding milkcollector outlet; and communicates, in response to determining that thequality of the flow of milk received by the particular inlet does notexceed the quality threshold, a signal to each of the shut-off valve andthe drain valve associated with the particular inlet, the signalscausing the shut-off valve to be in a closed position and the drainvalve to be in an open position such that the flow of milk received bythe particular inlet is directed to a corresponding drain outlet.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein the milk quality sensor comprises one of:a conductivity sensor; a milk color sensor; and a milk temperaturesensor.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of inletsfurther comprise: a first inlet that receives a first flow of milk froma first hose connected to a first teat of a dairy livestock; a secondinlet that receives a second flow of milk from a second hose connectedto a second teat of the dairy livestock; a third inlet that receives athird flow of milk from a third hose connected to a third teat of thedairy livestock; and a fourth inlet that receives a fourth flow of milkfrom a fourth hose connected to a fourth teat of the dairy livestock;the one or more milk collector outlets further comprise: a first milkcollector outlet that receives the first flow of milk from the firstinlet; a second milk collector outlet that receives the second flow ofmilk from the second inlet; a third milk collector outlet that receivesthe third flow of milk from the third inlet; and a fourth milk collectoroutlet that receives the fourth flow of milk from the fourth inlet; andwherein at least one of the drain outlets receives at least a portion ofthe flow of milk from corresponding two or more of the plurality ofinlets.
 11. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of inlets, each inletcomprising a first end coupled to a corresponding hose and a second endterminating in a chamber of a manifold; a plurality of milk collectoroutlets, each milk collector outlet corresponding to one of theplurality of inlets and comprising a first end forming a collectoropening in the chamber of the manifold and a second end coupled to amilk collector, wherein each milk collector outlet is in fluidcommunication with the corresponding inlet to the milk collector; and aplurality of drain outlets, each drain outlet corresponding to one ofthe plurality of inlets and comprising a first end forming a discardopening in the chamber of the manifold and a second end coupled to adiscard area, wherein each drain outlet is in fluid communication withthe discard area; a plurality of shut-off valves, each shut-off valveassociated with one of the plurality of inlets; and a plurality of drainvalves, each drain valve associated with one of the plurality of inlets;wherein the shut-off valve associated with a particular inlet and thedrain valve associated with the particular inlet establish fluidcommunication with the particular inlet and either the milk collectoroutlet corresponding to the particular inlet or the drain outletcorresponding to the particular inlet.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein at least one shut-off valve and at least one drain valve eachcomprise a plug actuated by a diaphragm, the plug and the diaphragmmolded as a single part.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the atleast one shut-off valve and the at least one drain valve: close when anair pressure is applied to the diaphragm; and open when the air pressureis removed from the diaphragm.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, furthercomprising: a flow sensor associated with a particular milk collectoroutlet of the plurality of collector outlets, the flow sensor generatesa signal corresponding to the flow rate of a fluid received by theparticular milk collector outlet; and a control unit operable to:determine, based on the signal generated by the flow sensor, if the flowrate of the fluid received by the particular milk collector outletexceeds a threshold; and communicate, in response to determining thatthe measured flow rate is less than the threshold, a signal to theshut-off valve associated with the inlet corresponding to the particularmilk collector outlet, the signal causing the shut-off be in a closedposition.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a milkquality sensor associated with a particular inlet of the plurality ofinlets, the flow sensor generates a signal corresponding to the qualityof a flow of milk received by the particular inlet; and a control unitthat: determines, based on the signal generated by the milk qualitysensor, if the quality of the flow of milk received by the particularinlet exceeds a quality threshold; communicates, in response todetermining that the quality of the flow of milk received by theparticular inlet does exceed the quality threshold, a signal to each ofthe shut-off valve and the drain valve associated with the particularinlet, the signals causing the shut-off valve to be in an open positionand the drain valve to be in a closed position such that the flow ofmilk received by the particular inlet is directed to the milk collectoroutlet corresponding to the particular inlet; and communicates, inresponse to determining that the quality of the flow of milk received bythe particular inlet does not exceed the quality threshold, a signal toeach of the shut-off valve and the drain valve associated with theparticular inlet, the signals causing the shut-off valve to be in aclosed position and the drain valve to be in an open position such thatthe flow of milk received by the particular inlet is directed to thedrain outlet corresponding to the particular inlet.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein the milk quality sensor comprises one of: aconductivity sensor, a milk color sensor; and a milk temperature sensor.